Carolyn Braden says "I'm one step ahead of Coach!"

Coach announced just a little while ago that they would be re-visiting some of their vintage smooth leather purse styles and selling them for a short time. Unfortunately, their prices won't be vintage.
I purchased this vintage Coach bag on eBay for a very good price prior to their announcement. For some reason, the simple style stood out to me. Yes, a backpack purse may be very early 90's, but remember in fashion, what goes around, comes around.













- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Carolyn Braden tries China Glaze "For Audrey"

Love this Tiffany blue color! It really is a beautiful shade.



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Carolyn Braden tries OPI Shatter over CND Shellac

I had some time to kill so I decided to finally try mixing regular polish with CND Shellac. I did three coats of Cream Puff (after a shellac base coat), then a layer of shellac top coat. I removed the tacky top layer of top coat with 99% Alcohol. I then did a layer of Seche brand base coat, a layer of OPI black Shatter, then two coats of Seche Vite top coat. I have no idea how this will hold up so I will blog about my results.




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

************Update!
I am now on day 4 of my manicure and there is not a chip yet! I am going swimming tomorrow, so let's see if they continue to hold up.

****2nd Update
They officially held up for 7 days. They would have lasted longer but I got nervous about something and started picking at them. I thought I broke that habit but sometimes it comes back!

Carolyn Braden's Jewel Animal Clasp

Here's my vintage green satin evening bag I found in my purse collection recently. I'd forgotten about it but when I saw the clasp, it stood out big time to me. Then I was reading my latest Vogue and there was a similar jeweled animal on a necklace in an ad. What goes around truly comes around in the fashion world.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Carolyn Braden is excited for OPI's Muppet Collection, Holiday 2011

Visit All Lacquered Up's blog about the upcoming OPI's line of Muppet inspired polish colors. Hmmmmm......could they be promoting Jason Segel's muppet movie? I think so. It comes to theater's on November 23rd, 2011 just in time for Thanksgiving.

http://www.alllacqueredup.com/2011/05/opi-holiday-2011-muppets-preview.html

Carolyn Braden says "Shellac by CND does not like the ocean."

After my recent vacation to Sanibel Island, I am needing to share this bit of information about CND Shellac vs. the ocean. They hate each other.

I swam in the ocean for quite a while on a Sunday and a Monday. By the end of the day on Monday, I saw the shellac actually separate from my nail tips and get sand stuck between the gel polish and my nail. Now I know the pros would claim that I must have done something wrong like not seal off the tips or something but I must say loudly, that's not true! I've been doing my own shellac for a while now and have learned all the little "rules" of using the polish. Currently being an art educator, my hands have been submerged in hand sanitizer, paint, clay, soapy water and many other art materials daily for two weeks at a time. My shellac never separated from my nails like it did when submersed in salt water for two days. It didn't happen to every nail but it was bad enough that I had to purchase some remover and orange sticks and take the polish off on day 3 of my vacation.

So, with this statement being said, I warn anyone wanting to get freshly shellac-ed before their ocean vacation. Maybe you'll have more luck than I, but seriously consider not getting a shellac manicure prior to a tropical vacation.

Carolyn Braden's Early Fall Report 2011

I just finished reading Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella. I've had it on hold to read for a while and it seems ironic I saved it for this summer. As I read it, the 20's fashions popped into my head as the next big style influence.When I got home from vacation yesterday and flipped open my Vogue waiting for me in my pile of mail, I saw I am right on target for this "vintage" style influence. You will see many finger woven hairstyles, beaded necklaces, fringed skirts, shimmering fabrics, cloches, and more from the 20's, 30's, and 40's fashion ideas. Read Kinsella's book to get inspiration for the upcoming fashion season.

Also, jeweled animals, double heart locket rings, paddle style (sorority shaped) neon necklaces with vintage animal faces, and a car necklace all stood out to me either in vintage pieces I already own or in a recent dream I had. Somehow those ideas will all show up in some way in the fashion world in the near future.